How many countries are in the world?

Have you ever wondered how many countries there are? This simple question doesn't have an answer. That's because the answer will depend on what your opinion is. For example, I say that there are 196 countries (the 193 UN-recognized countries, Palestine, Vatican City, and Kosovo). However, some of my friends say that there are only 193 countries (the 193 UN-recognized countries). Others say that there are 194 (the 193 UN-recognized countries and Vatican City). There are literally a hundred possibilities. This question has no answer. The answer will depend on your opinion. For example, the state of Massachusetts is seldom considered a country. Yet, Massachusetts has a government and a set of laws. So, countries need a government with laws. But Massachusetts lacks many other things that other countries have. Massachusetts has no diplomatic missions to anywhere, and it has to follow laws put up by the American government.

So, now we know what a country would need: laws, diplomatic missions, and a government.

Countries can have the same currency (dollar, Euro, etc.). Also, there is no requirement for being independent of defense. There are three countries in Micronesia that are freely associated with the United States and two countries in Polynesia with New Zealand. One of the those in the F. S. Micronesia. It used to be part of the United States but gained independence in 1979. The United States funds its defense, and its citizens are eligible for the US Military.

The United Nations has 193 countries. But, the UN also has observer countries (Vatican City, and Palestine). Many say that Vatican City is a real country. It is the official home of the pope. So if we include that, there are 194 countries. Palestine is different. I have an entire blog about it, but it comes down to the Israeli-Palestinian war.

Kosovo is not in the UN, but most NATO countries consider Kosovo as a legitimate country. It has a government, and it plans to join NATO in 2022. It isn’t part of the EU, but it does use the Euro. Its population is ethnically Albanian. Kosovo fought a war of independence with Yugoslavia in 1998 and 1999. Then, they declared independence in 2008.

But, there is another maybe-country: Taiwan. I have an entire blog about Taiwan, but to summarize, Japan invaded and annexed Taiwan in 1895. In 1945, in conclusion to WWII, Japan ceded Taiwan to China. After the Communists defeated the Capitalists (Republicans), the Capitalists retreated to Taiwan. The question of if Taiwan a country or not comes down to if Taiwan is part of China. Although Taiwan has a government, a set of laws, it’s own currency, other places like Hong Kong and Macao also have a government.

So, how many countries are there? I think the real answer is 195 (193 + Vatican City + Kosovo). Here’s my reasoning:

I do think that all the 193 countries of the UN should be considered countries. Most people agree that Vatican City is a real country, and I do too. Kosovo should also be considered a country. The reason that Kosovo is not considered a country by the UN is because Kosovo is a NATO supported country, and Russia and China, along with a few other countries, are not big fans of NATO, so they don’t want Kosovo to be a country. For Palestine, I don’t think it should be a country, partially because I’m in the United States, but I think that Palestine is a country that is trying to regain independence. For Kosovo, it already gained independence, and it’s trying to get international recognition. For Taiwan, it’s just personal opinion. I think it shouldn’t since it very lacks international recognition. Even big rivals of PRC, like Russia, the US, and the UK say that the PRC is the real China, because of the economics that I stated earlier. Also, it seems like they have to regain their independence.

Of course, an argument for any of these or others can work.